The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. A Edgley

Alwyn Edgley was born on 18th July 1920 and joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and joined 601 Squadron at Tangmere from 7 OTU on 4th September 1940.

His first flight with 601 was made on the 5th, a local one, and his last was made on the 15th, a section patrol. Soon afterwards Edgley moved to 253 Squadron at Kenley, flying his first operational sortie with the squadron on 24th September, an interception patrol.

253 Squadron at Kenley 1st December 1940

L to R, sitting on wing:

Sgt. RA Innes - P/O RC Graves – Sgt.A Edgley – Sgt. CB Brown – P/O DA Pennington – P/O DS Yapp

L to R standing:

F/O AF Eckford – Capt. de Scitivaux – F/O SR Peacock-Edwards – P/O G Marsland – F/Lt. RM Duke-Woolley – S/Ldr PR Walker – F/Lt. RF Watts – F/O Wall (Adjutant) – F/O Henry (Intelligence)

L to R sitting: Sgt. AS Dredge – Sgt. PJ Moore – Sgt. EHC Kee

(P/O Corkett and P/O Greenwood not present)

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On the 29th he was shot down by a Me109 and baled out, wounded in the shoulder. He landed at South Heighton and was admitted to Horton Hospital.

His Hurricane, P2677, crashed in flames at New Road, Denton, near Newhaven. His next operational sortie was made on 13th November.

In 1941 Edgley went on an instructors course and was later posted to Canada.

Commissioned in April 1942, he returned to the UK in late 1943 and subsequently transferred to the Administrative Branch.

Edgley was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He was recorded as still serving on the Reserve in 1964.

He died in December 1998 in Wellingborough.